Ballarat shines in solar program

Ballarat Courier
Monday 23/7/2007 Page: 5

BALLARAT is to become part of a multi-million dollar initiative to help reduce greenhouse gases. It was recently announced Ballarat would become a part of the central Victoria Solar Cities project. At a cost of $41 million the project brings together a consortium of councils, cities and private business to trial ways to increase energy efficiency and encourage homes and businesses to install solar hot water systems and panels. Federal Treasurer Peter Costello announced the government would contribute $15 million to the project. Ballarat will also be one of two cities to trial a 300 kilowatt solar park for the project.

Powercor Australia, the University of Ballarat, the City of Ballarat and the Hepburn and Pyrenees Shire Councils are among those in the consortium. Ballarat City Council chief executive officer Richard Hancock said it had taken several years for the bid to be formed and approved for funding and the solar project was also a part of the council's longer term strategy for planning and renewable energy. Not only will Ballarat benefit, but so will Bendigo and the broader region. It may well lead to changes in planning schemes where things like solar energy systems for hones might become more standard," Mr Hancock said.

"It's all part of trialing the new technology to see what the issues are. Certainly one of the challenges for Ballarat is we experience more cloud cover compared to other areas in the country, but we are pleased to be a part of it." Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions president Nick Lanyon said he was "delighted" Ballarat had been selected for the project.

The awareness about climate change is enormous and people are now looking to see what they can do," he said. The interesting thing is that many people's response to climate change is they look at what they can do around their house, they look at solar hot water, they look at insulation and they look at fluorescent light globes. The big problem is nine per cent of our greenhouse gas emissions come from the home, and given most of our homes aren't energy efficient, it's great people will now have the opportunity to do retrofitting and measure their efficiency." Project director Michael McCartney said the project would bring benefits to the community and 2500 households would be targeted to become more energy efficient and trial new products.